![]() ![]() ![]() The gourd was used as a container, and the symbol representing the ancestor becomes a container itself, hence its name. Given that the ipu was used in tattooing to represent ancestors and to collect their mana transferring it onto the tattooed person, it seems very likely that the symbol actually may have stemmed from the representation of a deified ancestor upholding his descendants. Looking at different designs from wooden carvings though, there is one specific version of etua (divinity or deified ancestor) that attracts the eye and suggests a different origin for the symbol: There are several theories about the origin and symbolism of the ipu, and most agree that it has evolved from a representation of the world:Ī is the original depiction, with the celestial void and the sheltering sky on the outside, and the earthly womb in the center.ī, c and d show how the original design may have evolved to the final version. It has several meanings, all related to genealogy and fertility. ![]() ![]() The ipu is one of the basic and most known symbols in Marquesan tattooing. ![]()
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